GREGORY RESIGNS AS WHS BOYS TENNIS COACH IN MID SEASON

Windsor High School head boys tennis coach Andrea Gregory resigned from her position with about one month remaining in the season.

Gregory, 39, who also coached the girls in the spring, told the boys at practice Monday that she’s stepping down.

Gregory said family commitments took their toll.

“It’s just family. I got to take care of my family. I’ve got my kids (ages 7 and 10) doing a million things, and my parents are not doing so great,” Gregory said on Tuesday. “It just got to be way overwhelming. Something had to give.”

Resigning as head coach in the middle of the season took WHS athletic director Mark Kanagy by surprise, especially since the Class 4A state-qualifying regional tournament is not far off – Oct. 9-10 in Greeley.

“It’s a first for me. I’ve never had a coach voluntarily leave during the season,” Kanagy said. “I’m surprised that it really came to a head the way it did. If it would have been at the end of the season, I might not have been as surprised as all of a sudden over the weekend her making that decision.”

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Gregory said it was an extremely tough decision to make.

“It just came down to these guys deserve better,” Gregory said. “Hopefully, there’s someone out there who can give them everything they deserve.”

Kanagy said he knew some things had changed for Gregory in her professional life. He said she got a job teaching part-time in Milliken this year that she didn’t have last year.

“She said it was some family issues. She didn’t elaborate with me what they were,” Kanagy said. “Some other things were going on that I knew that she was struggling with since the season has started. There were some things that were keeping her from being able to do the job, and she didn’t think it was fair for the kids for her to keep being the head coach, but not being able to be around as much as she’d want to be or we would expect her to be being the head coach.”

Wizards No. 1 singles player Grant Wick said Gregory talked to the team at Monday’s practice.

“She said she couldn’t devote enough time to us because of family stuff,” Wick said.

Kanagy said assistant coach Paul Katers will take over for Gregory for the remainder of the season, and he’s looking for someone to serve as Katers’ assistant until the season’s over. Kanagy said there are 14 players on the roster.

“I’m actively trying to find someone who can come and assist him,” Kanagy said. “I’ve got a couple of leads. I’m hoping by the end of the week we can have someone who can help them so it’s another person to have at meets, at tournaments, and also an extra body out there at practice.”

Gregory, who was hired in August 2008 right before the boys’ season started to replace Gary Wilson, didn’t rule out coaching the girls in the spring, but Kanagy said the girls’ coaching position is already posted on the school district Web site, and the boys’ opening will soon be posted, too.

“With the girls, I’m just leaving it open. Hopefully, there’s someone who steps up whose got copious about of time and energy for it,” Gregory said. “I’m going to see who steps in, and if nobody does I’m willing to take it. The girls have been exceedingly awesome, and they’re just great athletes and great people.”

As far as Kanagy trying to talk Gregory into coaching out the last three weeks or so, that wasn’t an option.

“There really wasn’t any chance of salvaging that,” Kanagy said.

Gregory said she had an excellent experience at WHS.

“Now I can why see most of the coaches in the league don’t have kids or they’re retired,” she said. “It’s just a time commitment, but I absolutely enjoyed it. I loved the kids, and I absolutely love the game. The girls, we had a great season and a great time.”

Gregory’s past coaching experience was at Nordhoff High School in Ojai, Calif., and at University High School in Greeley.

In an interview with Windsor Now after she was hired in August 2008, Gregory said she hoped to build the Windsor program into a winner.

“I want to give them (the players) a good foundation, with a good skill base so they can go on and have that for the rest of their lives,” Gregory said. “I can see that the Windsor program needs some help, and I’m willing to put the work into it, from the ground up.”

Kanagy said anyone interested in filling the assistant’s position should call him at 686-8119 or applications are available from the administration building, 1020 Main St.